In-depth: What ever happened to Ketlaphela?
Government is resuscitating its plans for a state-owned pharmaceutical company and is preparing to announce a new partner in the project. Catherine Tomlinson investigates.
COVID-19: Voices from PE townships on lockdown and level 3
South Africa moved to level three of its COVID-19 lockdown this week meaning, significantly relaxed lockdown regulations. In many townships in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, residents have mixed views on life under lockdown. Luvuyo Mehlwana visited some townships and spoke to residents.
A convenient untruth: The TB Proof healthcare worker
We were told the planned release date for an occupational health policy to protect healthcare workers was World tuberculosis Day, 24 March 2017. Three World TB Days later and with a new epidemic claiming the lives of healthcare workers we are still waiting for the policy, writes Dr Arne von Delft.
COVID-19: Pandemic puts pressure on medicine supply
Reports of drug shortages and stock-outs across South Africa have the Department of Health in a race against the clock to ensure a supply of essential medicines. With manufacturing operations around the world still facing issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is battling to meet the demand for contraceptives, tuberculosis medicines and psychiatric medicines.
COVID-19: The danger of criminalisation
To single out a disease through specific laws or existing prosecution mechanisms places an unreasonable burden on the criminal justice system to address people’s behaviour. Our experience with HIV points to a better approach, argues Mbalenhle Baduza.
COVID-19 “She said goodbye to me in her way”
By last week 1 010 public sector healthcare workers in the Western Cape had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of these six had passed away of COVID-19. Anncha Kepkey, a nurse at Tygerberg Hospital, is among those who died. Biénne Huisman spoke to her husband about who Anncha was and what happened in the last days of her life.
COVID-19: As ICUs fill up in the WC, some lockdown measures may have to be reconsidered
The substantial relaxation of South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown measures from today was probably both inevitable and the right decision. But with ICU capacity in the Western Cape already stretched, and infections in the province rising rapidly, one or two measures may need to be reconsidered, argues Marcus Low.
COVID-19: 14 Do’s and Don’ts of level 3 lockdown
On Sunday 24 May President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that from 1 June South Africa will move to level three of its national lockdown. Spotlight answers 14 questions relating to this new phase of the lockdown.
Opinion: HIV and TB are losing out in the drive to stop COVID-19
It seems HIV and TB are falling by the wayside in the drive to stop the spread of COVID-19. Where we can we must minimise the harm to the HIV and TB response, and we need to see the opportunity to address all three diseases together, writes Erica Penfold.
Op-ed: Why SECTION27 and TAC are involved in a court case about complementary medicines
The Pretoria High Court this week heard a challenge to the regulation of complementary medicine in South Africa. Tendai Mafuma and Julia Chaskalson explains why the case is important and why SECTION27 and the TAC got involved.
COVID-19: The hidden impact of lockdown on children
The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to prevent its spread have impacted children in some predictable and some less predictable ways. Kathryn Cleary spoke to some experts and some kids to get a deeper understanding.
COVID-19 Report 5: Spike in Cape Town natural deaths
Vaccine makes it through first hurdle, setback for antibody tests, and much more in our fifth issue of COVID-19 Report. We point you to the latest quality science on the pandemic.